Holiday

thurs. 7

Holiday Spirit Event — Featuring more than 400 Santas on display, along with arts and crafts vendors, large basket raffle, and a visit from Old St. Nick, 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Center for Learning, 4035 Union Road, Cheektowaga.

Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus — Presented by Starry Night Theatre and based on actual events, the play is adapted from the 1991 film of the same name, and features Christopher Fire, Vanessa Stipkovits, Greg Blarr, Carla Kwasniak and Madison Swartz, under the direction of L. Don Swartz and DJ Swartz. Opens at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, and continues at 7 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Ghostlight Theatre, 170 Schenck St., North Tonawanda; $. 743-1614, www.starrynighttheatre.com

The Nutcracker — With the New York City Ballet, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at the Screening Room, in the Boulevard Mall, 880 Alberta Drive, formerly the Funny Bone Comedy Club. Separate entrance outside the mall between Macy’s and JC Penney’s; $. 837-0376, www.screeningroom.net

A Christmas Carol — In the early 1980s, Alleyway Theatre Artistic Director Neil Radice founded “A Christmas Carol” as an annual event, and this is the season’s 35th year of presenting the holiday classic. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, and 2 and 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 8-23, at the Alleyway Theatre, 1 Curtain Up Alley, Buffalo; $. 852-2600, www.alleyway.com

CAM’s Holiday Bash! — The Castellani Art Museum of Niagara University will host its 11th annual event, where you can celebrate the holidays in the central gallery of the CAM, dance to live music by Penelope, and enjoy refreshments, basket raffle, door prize and a 50/50 drawing, 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at the Castellani Art Museum, Niagara University, 5795 Lewiston Road, Lewiston; $10 for public, free to CAM members and NU faculty, staff and students. www.castellaniartmuseum.org

Friday Night Christmas Hike From Niagara Falls, NY, to Niagara Falls, Canada — During this 16th annual event, enjoy a winter evening hike around Goat Island and walk across the Rainbow Bridge to Canada to see the holiday lights. You’ll stop for a warm drink and snack after, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8. Meet in Prospect Point parking lot (next to the Rainbow Bridge). Bring three quarters and either a passport or enhanced license for the bridge. Bad weather will cancel the hike. Call 694-4346 or 405-7121 by noon Thursday, Dec. 7, with questions.

Home Alone — An 8-year-old troublemaker must protect his home from a pair of burglars when he is accidently left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation. Chris Columbus directs Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara and John Heard in the 1990 John Hughes comedy, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, and Saturday, Dec. 9, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Screening Room, in the Boulevard Mall, 880 Alberta Drive, formerly the Funny Bone Comedy Club. Separate entrance outside the mall between Macy’s and JC Penney’s; $. 837-0376, www.screeningroom.net

sat. 9

A Polish Holiday — Carols, song and dance performed by the Lira Singers, Lira Dancers and Lira Chamber Ensemble, co-sponsored by the Am-Pol Eagle and the Polish American Journal, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the UB Center for the Arts, UB North Campus, Amherst; $. 877-987-6487, www.ticketfly.com

Parkside Holiday Market — Looking for something unique and personal to give that special someone this holiday? Santa will also be making an appearance at this event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Nichols School, 1250 Amherst St., Buffalo. 838-1240, www.parksidebuffalo.org

Women’s Ministry ChristmasLuncheon — With speaker Sara Borgstede, a Christian speaker who helps busy people balance faith, family and fitness. Her talk will be on “A Holy, Messy Christmas,” 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1135 Oliver St., North Tonawanda; open to the public. 873-9377

Santa’s Arrival — Part of Jingle Falls USA, instead of reindeer dropping Old St. Nick off, he will arrive via Rainbow Air Helicopter at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Old Falls Street, USA, a three-block destination in downtown Niagara Falls, N.Y. FallsStreet.com

Santa’s Workshop — Santa will only be visiting during the hours of Santa’s Workshop, as he has quite a few places to visit after. Photo prints with Santa will be available for $5 each, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, 2655 South Park Ave., Buffalo; $. 827-1584, www.buffalogardens.com

Lunch With Santa — Santa is coming to the Herschell Carrousel Museum to have lunch with visitors. Come join him for lunch and tell him all of your Christmas wishes, 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda; $ - registration and prepayment are required. 693-1885, www.carrouselmuseum.org

Santa on the Carrousel — Stop to ride the carrousel with Santa. Be a part of the Carrousel Museum’s holiday season at their brand new Candy Cane Carnival. Games, snacks and crafts for kids will be featured, noon-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda; $ - registration and prepayment are required. 693-1885, www.carrouselmuseum.org

Castle by Candlelight Tours — Experience the holiday spirit in the company of 18th century-style merrymakers at this event that will feature music, crafts, demonstrations and more that will make the French Castle brim with festivities, 6:30-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Old Fort Niagara, Old Fort Niagara State Park, Youngstown; $. 745-7611, www.oldfortniagara.org

Buffalo Gateway Chorus Holidays in Harmony — The all-female a cappella group invites you to kickoff the season with this holiday show with the Top 10 International award-winning Buffalo Gateway Show Chorus. Event will also feature a Chinese auction, 2 and 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at Antonio’s Banquet Center, 7708 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, N.Y.; $30. www.buffalogatewaychorus.com

Gloria: A Very Vivaldi Christmas Concert — The Alden-Area Ecumenical Choir will perform the very popular Vivaldi “Gloria” with piano, harpsichord and a string quartet, along with a Christmas carol medley and other music of the season, 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, 2021 Sandridge Road, Alden.

American Legion Band of the Tonawandas Christmas Concert — The 85-member American Legion Band of the Tonawandas, Post 264, will present a holiday concert featuring “Overture to a Winter Celebration,” by James Stephenson, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” by Fred Coots, “Sleigh Ride,” by Leroy Anderson, “White Christmas,” by Irving Berlin, and other holiday favorites, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Riviera Theatre and Performance Arts Center, 67 Webster St., North Tonawanda; $. 692-2413, www.rivieratheatre.org

BPO Kids Jingle Bell Jam — Selections from “The Nutcracker,” featuring dance performances from the Royal Academy of Ballet and Verve Dance Studios, along with a sing-along, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo; $. 885-5000, www.bpo.org. Come at 1:30 p.m. to make cards for the men and women in the U.S. military stationed away from home. Following the show, children and parents are invited to have milk and cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus. BPO encourages attendees to bring a new unwrapped donation for Toys for Tots.

German Christmas Mass — Canisius College will host its 50th annual Mass, 10 a.m., followed by an Advent breakfast reception at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, in the Grupp Fireside Lounge and Regis Room of the Richard E. Winter ’42 Student Center. The German American Musicians will perform a concert of German Christmas music at 9:30 a.m. 888-2835

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play — Spend a little time in Bedford Falls this holiday season by being a part of the studio audience at WBFR’s 1946 Christmas Eve radio broadcast of “It’s A Wonderful Life,” based on the Frank Capra movie. Presented by Road Less Traveled Productions. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, and Friday, Dec. 8; 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Shea’s 710 Main Theatre, 710 Main St., Buffalo; $. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com. www.sheas.org

It’s a Wonderful Life — Presented by Rocking Horse Productions and based on the Frank Capra film, the production features Angelo Heimowitz as George Bailey and Michael Breen as Clarence Odbody, under the direction of Jane Navarro. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9; and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Lancaster Opera House, 21 Central Ave., Lancaster; $. 683-1776, www.lancopera.org

now-Dec. 17

A Charlie Brown Christmas — Presented by Theatre of Youth, the production is based on the story written by Charles M. Schulz and the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Families will enjoy Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang live on stage. Performances: 1 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Dec. 17 (added shows: 6 p.m. Dec. 9 and 16), at the Allendale Theatre, 203 Allen St., Buffalo; $. 884-4400, www.theatreofyouth.org